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60 years ago, Ian Fleming
December 17, 1963, London Heathrow airport, British author of the James Bond novels Ian Fleming (1908-1964) checking out an early copie of his latest book “On Her Majesty Secret Service”.
Fleming was on his way to “Golden Eye” , his winter retreat bungalow in Oracabessa at the North coast of Jamaica.
Unfortunately, it proved to be the last winter vacation enjoying the Caribbean Sea but a stay during which Fleming meet American ornithologist James Bond (1900-1989) author of “Birds of the West Indies”. Fleming was a keen bird watches and owned a 1947 copie of the book, using the author’s Anglo-Saxon name for the hero of his successful spy novels.
Fleming offered the ornithologist a copie of “You Only Live Twice”, writing on cover page "To the real James Bond from the thief of his identity. Ian Fleming, Feb 5, 1964 (a great day)."
1963 had been a busy year for Fleming, as the novels became movies he had visited the “From Russia With Love” film set in Istanbul and enjoyed the premiere of this 2nd Bond movie in October 1963.
Back in England by spring 1964, Fleming spent his last days enjoying golf & the country side in Kent.
Note Fleming wore his
Rolex Explorer 1016 wrist watch on a 7206 steel bracelet. The Rolex Explorer was the watch Fleming described in the James Bond novels and after his death, the watch resurfaced in 1981. During the “Fleming 100th anniversary” exhibition, this Rolex Explorer 1016, case number 596851 was on display at the Imperial War Museum from May 2008 to March 2009.
(Photo: AP)
